Carey, who was an NFL referee for 19 years before joining the CBS broadcast team for the 2014-15 season, said he asked those in charge of referee assignments if he could be given other games. Carey also said he asked that his request be kept private.

The team's nickname has been criticized by Native American groups, a number of lawmakers and other prominent figures, who say the name is racist and offensive. Team owner Dan Snyder has repeatedly stated that he will never change the name.

In May, a letter was signed by 50 United States senators that asked the NFL to push the team toward making a change.

A month later, the U.S. Patent Office canceled six federal trademark registrations for the Redskins because the nickname is “disparaging to Native Americans” and cannot be trademarked under federal law that prohibits protection on offensive or disparaging language.